The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the recent claim by the Onitsha-based group, Intersociety, of the killing of 1,402 Christians in 96 days, as false, malicious, and criminally intended to tarnish the image of the Nigerian government, and its President.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group argued that it is a continuation of a campaign of calumny that should not be taken lightly.
It said: “We recall that the same Intersociety was the NGO headed by Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, recently outed as a screwdriver seller, who fabricated the misleading narrative on insecurity, which was part of what American President Donald Trump relied on to threaten a “gun blazing” operation in Nigeria.
“This was despite credible efforts by the Tinubu administration to effectively combat terrorism in the country.
“It is equally disconcerting to note that Intersociety and its leaders have been repeatedly linked to IPOB, a terrorist organisation in Nigeria, by the Army and other security agencies in the country.
“It is even more worrisome and irresponsible that Intersociety made such an inciting and weighty accusation against the country, without providing specific details on when, where, and how the alleged killings were carried out across the country.
“It is pertinent to maintain that the group is reputed to have successfully carried out one of the most damaging campaigns against Nigeria’s image, which almost undermined the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
“It is however true that inter-tribal and interreligious violence have constituted major insecurity in Nigeria, but it is also true that both Muslims and Christians have been equal victims of the circle of the mindless violence of attrition that has bedevilled Nigeria.
“For Intersociety to portray the situation as a one-sided attack against Christians, with an exaggerated figure of killings, with the intent to taint the nation’s image abroad, is heinous, atrocious, and seditious against the state of Nigeria.”
The group also made a case for an investigation of the latest Intersociety claim.
“It is commonsensical to agree that having succeeded in creating a major diplomatic rift between Nigeria and the United States through its friends in the US Congress, Intersociety will continue to do more damage in the hope of furthering its parochial interest if these current allegations are not investigated and quickly acted upon.
“The world needs to know that Intersociety is not what it claims to be. The time for the government to act is now.
“The Federal Government should ensure that Intersociety’s current propaganda and disinformation against Nigeria is not ignored or treated with kid gloves.
“The Onitsha-based NGO and its leaders should be held accountable. They should be made to explain how 1,402 Christians were killed in 96 days in Nigeria under the present administration. The group should be prosecuted for inciting insurrection, if it fails to provide cogent and verifiable explanations to prove its weird allegations.
“It is unfortunate and reprehensible for any individual or group in Nigeria to peddle deliberate falsehood and disinformation in promoting religious acrimony, capable of destabilising the country at a time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leaving no stone unturned to eliminate insecurity in Nigeria,” it added.
